Betty Crocker Blues

I love to cook. Really, I do. I am not a wiz in the kitchen like some of the women in my family, but I can turn out a good meal. I like experimenting and creating. It's a rewarding process for me.

Last night was crazy-

My sister, Emily, came up to spend the night. She's home from college, so I enjoyed catching up with her and just hanging around. She agreed to help me with some Christmas cooking, so we got some ingredients together and began. My first recipe was for peanut brittle. I've never made it before (I'd actually never made any of the things I was about to create) but I was excited at the opportunity. After peanut brittle, we were going to make peppermint/chocolate brittle, chocolate dipped cake rounds and (possibly) carmel corn.

We never made it past the peanut brittle.

The recipe seemed easy enough. Combine this, stir that, microwave for a while in a glass bowl... Yeah, it's that last part that I got stuck on. They weren't kidding when they said a glass bowl. My sugar, karo and peanut mix exploded in the microwave, melting a hole in the bowl which then started to burn.

When I realized what was happening, I grabbed the bowl to set it on the counter. I had been on the phone with Steve at the time as he was on his way home, and immediately hung up on him.Unfortunately, I didn't see the hole until too late. The liquid mix splahed all over the floor, counters, dish washer, wood cutting board, the sink and finally the glass pan I happened to have on the counter. I was going to dump it in the sink but didn't want to get it clogged.

The thing with this mixture, is that it hardens VERY quickly. It's like a candy coating. It was hardening so fast, that even before we microwaved it, it was hardening on my spoons so much so that it cracked on of my spatulas.

Emily and I ended up standing in the middle of the kitchen laughing, but only after I soaked my burnt foot and we realized we'd have to scrap the floor, etc. with spoons to get the stuff off.

Steve came home to use feverishly working.
We didn't cook anymore that night.
My wonderful husband finished all the cleaning.

Pictures to follow.